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Numerous parks, boat ramps closing on Lanier
Water level is 4-plus feet over full pool
1230sardis
Waters of Lake Lanier edge closer to a road at Sardis Creek Park early Tuesday morning. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expected to close the northwest Hall County park today.

Bob and Jeanne Frusciente are enjoying camping at Lake Lanier, but then again, their RV at Bolding Mill Campground in northwest Hall County is perched way above the water.

“It’s high and dry,” said Bob Frusciente.

Conditions aren’t as rosy close to the water’s edge.

The Army Corps of Engineers has closed many area parks, boat ramps and beaches this week as result of the lake level rising above 1,073 feet above sea level.

Lanier’s normal winter full pool is 1,070 feet.

As of Tuesday evening, the level was at 1,074.58 feet. Corps officials said they believe that, with rainfall moving toward the lake in creeks and streams, it could top 1,075 feet by Wednesday.

The corps has closed these Lanier parks:

Little Ridge Park

Lula Park

Long Hollow Park

Simpson Park

Robinson Park

Boat ramps have been closed or are closing at these parks:

Toto Creek Park

Nix Bridge Park

Thompson Creek Park

Van Pugh South Park

Little River Park

Thompson Bridge Park

Bolding Mill Park

Little Hall Park

Keith Bridge Park

Day-use beaches are being closed at:

Van Pugh North Park

Old Federal Park

Duckett Mill Park

Little Hall Park

Bolding Mill Park

Toto Creek Park

Keith Bridge Park

Burton Mill Park

West Bank Park

Buford Dam Park

The corps’ two campgrounds that are open in the winter, Bolding Mill and Sawnee, are still open, although six sites have been closed at Sawnee.

“If the (water level) gets over 1,075, we’re going to have to be looking at these areas even closer and monitoring that for closure,” Chief Ranger Chris Arthur said.

One of the biggest concerns for the corps from flooding is debris that can wash ashore, he said.

Elsewhere, water is over the road at Holly Park in Gainesville and behind tennis courts at Longwood Park off Pearl Nix Parkway, said Melvin Cooper, Gainesville Parks and Recreation director.

Also, a large tree fell over the weekend in Wilshire Trails in Gainesville, demolishing a gazebo, he said.

Flooding also has taken place at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge Park in Gainesville. Venue manager Morgan House said he spent about six hours Monday cleaning up, especially as debris built up on the plaza side of the venue, which is off Clarks Bridge Road/Ga. 284.

House said he’s keeping an eye on the forecast, which, as of Tuesday evening, was calling for rain through Thursday morning, including a 100 percent chance of heavy rain Wednesday night. By the time dry weather is forecast to move in Thursday, the area could have gotten up to another 2 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.

“I’m a little bit worried that water might get into the boathouse (Wednesday), but there’s nothing we can do,” House said.

If the water level rises above 1,075 feet, the corps’ high water action plan calls for the agency to close Little River, Thompson Bridge, Thompson Creek and Keith Bridge parks on the north end of the lake as well as Balus Creek in West Hall.

Also, boat ramps will be closed at Old Federal, Mountain View and Bolding Mill in West Hall and Tidwell Park in Forsyth County.

The corps also will inspect the campgrounds and “flag off dangerous campsites and block off roadways to sites that are flooded,” the plan states.

Hall County officials said county parks haven’t had any issues stemming from the weather.

Weather hasn’t been a problem so far for the Fruscientes, who are staying at Bolding Mill in anticipation of the husband working on the Ga. 400 widening project through Forsyth County.

“It’s gets slippery and muddy in places, but most of the time,” conditions are fine, he said.